Rusthuiz Guest House

About

Rusthuiz owners René and Hendri Taylor have been in Stellenbosch ever since finishing their studies at the town’s university in the 1990s, and run the guesthouse they bought in 2000 with the same fierce passion as they have for the Town of Oaks. High standards have been set in every aspect of the guesthouse, from the manicured gardens to the immaculate, elegantly appointed guest rooms and tasteful décor.

Great for honeymooners and couples looking for a dreamy retreat, the Luxury Suite is the largest and most opulent of the rooms and has a King-size bed draped with romantic netting. The modern bathroom has a huge oval bathtub and an equally spacious shower, with a host of luxury amenities catering for every need.

The Classical Rooms mix timeless elegance with some colourful modern artwork and sleek wood panelling and come with either a spacious en-suite corner bath and shower, or shower only.

Choose one of the spacious Balcony Rooms if you want to enjoy the fresh Winelands air and a view looking out over the gardens and mountains. Breakfast can be ordered from the room, to be enjoyed on the east-facing balconies, which perfectly capture the warming morning sun. The rooms are linked by inter-leading doors, so booking both of them allows families to enjoy a wonderful holiday together.

Slightly smaller than the rest of the rooms but just as comfortable, the Standard Room has a cosy cottage-style atmosphere, and is most suited to travellers or the budget-conscious.

To while away the summer days, the guesthouse has a huge swimming pool, loungers and a lovely patio available to guests. In the rainy Cape winter, complimentary sherries can be sipped in front of the fireplace in the lounge.

When searching for a house, the Taylors ensured that they found a property that was not too far removed from their beloved town. Guests need walk only 600m down the road to enter the vibrant streets of Stellenbosch and explore the historical attractions, arts and crafts and mix of old-world and modern shops, before settling down for a meal or beverage at one of the many top-class restaurants and coffee shops.

A variety of unique museums can be found around the town, including the Oude Meester Brandy Museum, the Toy and Miniature Museum and the Wijnland Auto Museum, boasting the biggest collection of South African classic cars under one roof. Of course, a visit to Stellenbosch would not be complete without a trip to one of the beautiful wine estates in the vicinity.

The area offers plenty of adventure too, with numerous adrenaline-pumping activities available, while nature lovers can enjoy the tranquillity of the surrounding nature reserves, walking among the indigenous fynbos in the company of birds and small animals.If you’re at a loss for what to do, simply approach the ever-smiling staff at Rusthuiz, who will gladly share advice and take the hassle of making reservations out of your hands.

Rates & Summary

1 Standard Room

Sleeps 2 in twin bedsEn-suite shower

2 Balcony Rooms

Each sleeps 2 in twin or double bedEn-suite bath and showerBalcony overlooking gardenCan be linked through interleading doors

1 Luxury Suite

Pricing

Catering

Continental and cooked breakfast included

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome.The interlinked balcony rooms are especially good for families.

Why Stay Here?

Rusthuiz Guest House is a Cape Dutch-style luxury bed and breakfast set in lovely gardens in the wine capital of Stellenbosch. Rusthuiz offers luxurious comfort within an easy walk from town, but far enough way to remain peaceful. Every staff member is focused on creating a relaxed, elegant environment while ensuring that the demands of the guests are met.

Summary

Elegant, luxurious guesthouse in the heart of the Cape Winelands region

Highlights

About

As the name suggests, the Cape Winelands is an area of vines and vineyards; the berries of which are responsible for that most delicious fermented juice of the grape: wine. The region is well known for its proliferation of estates and cellars that continually create quality wines throughout the cultivar spectrum.

This is an area that encourages leisurely meanders along its various wine routes, absorbing the natural beauty of the rural surroundings.

The region stretches northwards from the eastern outskirts of Cape Town. In the south the popular and trendy towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek nestle in the shadow of the mountains that make up the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve. To the west the popular tourist ‘Route 62’ follows the Breede River Valley. It takes in the town of Robertson, the quaint village of McGregor and continues to Worcester.

North, across the N1 highway, the historic towns of Paarl, Wellington and Tulbagh are strung out between a series of mountains. In the far north-east, the town of Ceres is a dot in a sweeping valley of fruit orchards.

Craggy mountains are a feature of the landscape, giving rise to the region also being called the Boland (High Land). The mountains include the ranges of the Groot Drakenstein, Langeberg, Hexrivier and Witzenberg. Their steep rocky peaks plunge to gentler gradients rich in fynbos and proteas, before levelling out in fertile valleys threaded with chortling streams.

In these low-lying areas, suspended between the slopes, vineyards stretch in patchwork patterns. Like an artist’s palette the area changes with the seasons - from subtle spring pastels, through lush summer greens, to the earthy shades of autumn.

Not only are the Cape Winelands a delight for connoisseurs of fine wines; the towns themselves are centres for a host of enjoyable pastimes. Many are steeped in history and have magnificent collections of traditional Cape Dutch and period architecture.

These are best viewed during a stroll along the leafy streets. The historic Church Street in Tulbagh has the largest concentration of provincial monuments in one street in South Africa. The university town of Stellenbosch, with its oak-lined boulevards, is the second-oldest town in the country, dating back to 1671. Today it is an important cultural centre with a host of galleries and museums, and the country’s oldest music school.

Franschhoek, reclining in a somnolent valley ambience, entices gourmets to sample its fare at some of South Africa’s top restaurants. McGregor is well known for its life-enriching tranquillity and Ceres for its fruit production and snow-covered mountains in winter. Besides their wineries, Robertson and Worcester are known for the production of some of South Africa’s best known brandies – Klipdrift and KWV, respectively.

The winelands is great country in which to enjoy a leisurely trip along minor roads that fade into the fynbos. They will take you into valleys and gorges, past barns stacked with bales of lucerne, and paddocks with grazing sheep and lazing cows. Around farmsteads and cottages, chickens strut their stuff and pigs wallow in slushy heaven. Dams mirror the sky and hillsides, their reflections rippled by drifting and preening waterbirds. Tractors till the land, and labourers and farmers wave to every passer-by.

For centuries the terroir here has been ideally suited to the production of great wine and today, more than ever before, it is also conducive to the making of good times and fond memories. The Cape Winelands is a region to relax in, whilst inhaling the warm, scented air and indulging in the finer things in life.

Look out for

Wine tasting – naturally this is a popular and pleasant pastime in the region. The Stellenbosch wine route, established in 1971, is the oldest in South Africa. Today other routes lead to the cellars and estates around virtually every town in the region. Many of the wineries offer tasting and sales from Monday to Saturday. Maps are available from the tourism office in each town.

Brandy tasting – this much-loved spirit is produced by a good number of cellars and specialist distillers throughout the region. There are 2 brandy routes in the region. The Western Cape Brandy Route winds through Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl and Wellington. The R62 Brandy Route goes through Robertson and Worcester. Many of these offer tasting, tours and sales from Monday to Friday.

Historical towns – the Cape Winelands is rich in history, with most towns and many of the wine estates having their own collections of historical buildings, museums and monuments. The region is synonymous with Cape Dutch and Victorian architecture. Highlights include Church Street in Tulbagh and the De Oude Drostdy Museum just outside the town. There are Zeederberg Square and the Paarl Museum in Paarl, and Klein Plasie open air Museum in Worcester. Twenty declared National Monuments are in Wellington and there is the Huguenot Memorial and Museum in Franschhoek.

Scenic drives – where there are mountains and valleys there are always scenic roads and passes to explore; here is no exception.

River rafting – the Breede River is the sixth largest river in South Africa and is a playground of fun and adventure.

Art galleries – the towns are home to a host of artists and galleries. The Stellenbosch Gallery and Rupert Gallery in Stellenbosch are popular and showcase art through many mediums and genres.

Wildlife on display – the area has a number of parks that allow one to get close to a variety of wild creatures in captivity. Some of the better known ones include the Drankenstein Lion Park, Butterfly World, Paarl Bird Sanctuary and the Le Bonheur Crocodile Farm - all situated between Paarl and Stellenbosch.

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